Captain Robert McKenna assumed the duties of Director of Admissions in July 2014. Prior to that, Captain McKenna served as the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Community Services Command, where he was responsible for the leadership and Operations of the Coast Guard Exchange System (CGES) and program management for the Coast Guard’s Morale, Well-Being, and Recreation (MWR) programs. CGES operates 66 stores and 49 satellite exchanges, with average annual sales of $163 million. CGES operations generate approximately $7 million in profits that fund MWR programs service-wide, and are used to recapitalize CGES facilities. Coast Guard MWR programs provide a valuable non-pay compensation benefit to active duty members, their families, and other eligible patrons in support of mission readiness and retention.

His previous assignments include serving as the Comptroller at the United States Coast Guard Academy from 2009 to 2011. In this position, he was responsible for the management and oversight of the Academy’s annual $24 million operating budget and the $2 million non-appropriated budget. In addition, he was responsible for the oversight of the $20 million of general property, $11 million in the cadet pay account, the Academy’s $6 million galley contract, and the Academy Clothing Locker with annual sales of $1.5 million. Prior to that, he was the Response Department Head at Sector Long Island Sound, where he was responsible for the management and oversight of all Coast Guard search and rescue, homeland security, pollution response, and law enforcement missions in Connecticut and Suffolk and Nassau counties on Long Island. Captain McKenna also served as the Planning Officer for the First Coast Guard District and was responsible for the personnel, budget, and civil engineering project planning for Coast Guard units from Maine to New Jersey. He served as the Deputy Group Commander at Group Portland, overseeing search and rescue, homeland security and law enforcement operations in Maine and New Hampshire. Prior to that, he was at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., serving in the Office of Budget and Office of Financial Management. He was the Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team (North), and Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Group Hampton Roads Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET). His first assignment upon graduating from the Coast Guard Academy was to the Coast Guard Cutter Alert.

Captain McKenna graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. He earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland in January, 1996.

Captain McKenna’s personal awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, one Navy Achievement Medal, the Southwest Asia Service medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Originally from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, Captain McKenna is married to Caroline McKenna (McShane) of Linwood, New Jersey. They have four sons; Robert (21), Brian (19), Jack (14) and Brendan (12).